Expedia data: The most popular destinations for seeing the Northern Lights this year

Seeing the magnificent colours of the northern lights in the night sky takes planning, patience, and a little bit of luck. However, the only factor that can increase your chances of seeing the spectacular sight is being in the right place. Expedia has released the top 10 most popular destinations for watching the northern lights.

The most popular destination for travellers seeking to see the northern lights is Lapland, Finland, which has seen a staggering 370 percent increase. This was reported by travelandleisure.com.

In fact, the entire Scandinavian country has become the top choice for Americans with a 215 percent increase from 2022 to 2023, especially for the popular aurora hunting destinations of Rovaniemi and Inari. Those who want to save money should pay attention to October. Not only it is the peak period from the end of September to the end of March but hotels in Lapland also cost an average of $216 per night, which is $250 less than in December.

Churchill, Canada, took second place, with a 110% increase in searches. Still, this is not the only city in the country that made the list. Banff ranked fifth with an 80 percent increase, and Jasper ranked seventh with a 70 percent increase.

The third and fourth places went to Norwegian cities: Alta, the world's northernmost city, with 100 percent growth and Narvik with 90 percent growth. Since the aurora season here lasts from autumn to spring, the most strategic time is March, April, September and October, according to Expedia.

Kálfafell, Iceland, tied for fifth place with Banff, also having an 80 percent increase, while the British Isle of Skye took eighth place with a 75 percent increase.

Finally, two Swedish cities rounded out the list: Abisko with 65 percent growth and Kiruna with 55 percent growth.

While none of the American destinations made the top ten, some of them also showed more interest. In Michigan, where the most popular months are April, October and November, the number of searches increased by 20%, as did Voyager National Park in Minnesota near the Canadian border, which has the best lighting in autumn and winter. And, of course, the popular northern lights state of Alaska, with its long season from late August to mid-April, saw a 15 percent increase.

Expedia's comprehensive guide also includes the best places to stay, important travel highlights, and tips on how to take the best northern lights photos to capture your experience.

"Patience is key, and experimenting with camera settings is the secret sauce to capturing the northern lights. At the same time, don't forget to enjoy the moment. No matter how many times I've been lucky enough to see it with my own eyes, I always put my camera down and immerse myself in the extraordinary experience of the northern lights," says nature photographer Dave Sandford in an Expedia release.